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HELP !!! Hedge is dying.. What is the problem

wils75713009wils75713009 Posts: 4
in Problem solving

Hi

Currently in the middle of a internal and external building project and the hedge that separates us from next door is starting to die !

We have dug down at the side of the hedge (around 1m form base) and hit no roots to instal a wall. There is also no visible roots showing 

Can anyone identify the problem ??

 








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Posts

  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    Looks to me like privet which is semi deciduous and may drop its leaves if it is particularly cold and regrow them again when the weather gets a bit warmer. Digging down in the ground close to the hedge may have left cold air get closer to the roots than the hedge is used to and it may think it is a colder winter this year as a result and is taking the nutrients out of the old leaves before dropping them.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • wils75713009wils75713009 Posts: 4
    hi @robairdmacraignil

    Thanks for the advice. What would be easiest way to fix this other than back filing ? tarpaulin around the base ?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Honey fungus?
    Devon.
  • wils75713009wils75713009 Posts: 4
    Cant see anything nearby @Hostafan1
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    wils75713009 said:
    hi @robairdmacraignil

    Thanks for the advice. What would be easiest way to fix this other than back filing ? tarpaulin around the base ?

    If my guess about your issue is correct then it should recover in the spring but back filling the trench would probably help. Privet is hardy so even if it does drop its leaves the fresh leaves should regrow naturally when we get some warmer weather. Tarpaulin around the base should not be needed.
    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    wils75713009 said:
    Cant see anything nearby @Hostafan1
    What are you looking for?
    Privet is VERY susceptible to honey fungus.
    Devon.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited December 2023
    @wils75713009 Honey Fungus happens gradually not something you suddenly notice.
    Looking for the bootlace strands isn't practical. There are also over a hundred honey coloured mushrooms so that is difficult too. You could try looking at the base for mycelium and rotting. The marks on the leaves could be linked to very wet growing conditions.
    Having worked as a gardener I have only seen it once and that was pointed out to me by an expert. Privet I understand is very prone to it, the soil in my area is heavy clay so not often grown here.
    Are the other shrubs and trees in your garden healthy?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It may be nothing serious, but as it could well be in need of renovation anyway I think I’d cut it hard back to about 18” in early February … clear any dead stuff, weeds, ivy etc from the base, give it a feed of Fish, Blood& Bone and a hood mulch of garden compost or soil improver type organic matter. 
    It’ll either spring into life in which case you’ll have a much improved hedge, or it won’t … and there’s nothing to lose.  
    🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    🙄 for ‘hood mulch’ please read ‘good mulch’. Flippin auto-correct 🙄 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wils75713009wils75713009 Posts: 4
    @GardenerSuze the garden at the moment looks more like Chernobyl the privet is the only shrub / plant that is left due to building works so difficult to tell. Just been reading about honey fungus would be a real nightmare if it is

    @Dovefromabove thank you. Other than back filling now. Is it a case I wait until spring or start to feed now as detailed above ?
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